System and method for mobile device phosphor excitation and detection

Abstract

The present disclosure is drawn to a method and system for the excitation, identification, and authentication of light emitting materials using a mobile device comprising at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), for use in a variety of applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 at least one phosphor; and 
 a mobile device comprising an IR VCSEL configured to emit at least one wavelength of light to excite the phosphor from within a predetermined maximum distance with sufficient energy such that photons emitted by the phosphor are detectable by a human eye and/or a sensor that is part of the mobile device, the predetermined distance being a distance between the IR VCSEL and the at least one phosphor. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphor is on or within a substrate, the substrate comprising a polymeric material, a conductive metal, an insulator, a semiconductor, leather, wood, glass, ceramic, natural or synthetic fiber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphor is on or within a toy or a component of a toy, a banknote, a security document, a label, an article of clothing, a fashion accessory, or a diagnostic strip. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one phosphor is on or within a toy or a component of a toy, the toy or component of a toy is comprised of a translucent or transparent material, and substantially all of the toy or component of a toy glows with a visible light when the at least one phosphor is excited. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the IR VCSEL emits a wavelength with a peak in the range of between 780 and 11000 nm. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined maximum distance is less than about 3 inches. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lens between the mobile device and the phosphor, configured to concentrate the wavelength of light emitted from the VCSEL down towards the phosphors. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to detect an optical response from the phosphor. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a front-facing camera or a rear-facing camera. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a semiconductor detector. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a signal during and/or after the VCSEL has stopped emitting. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a signal of about the same wavelength as the light emitted from the VCSEL. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the system in configured to (a) cause the VCSEL to emit, (b) cause the VCSEL to stop emitting, (c) detect a signal, and (d) repeat steps (a)-(c) a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the mobile device emits a first wavelength when the detected response matches an expected response, and emits a second wavelength when the detected response does not match the expected response. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphor is configured to form a barcode or image, the barcode or image being readable by the mobile device. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the barcode or image contains an address, and wherein the mobile device opens a website or file located at the address. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the barcode or image is on a component of a separate device or system, wherein the barcode or image contains information about that component, and wherein the mobile device displays information about the positioning of the component within the separate device or system. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or a wearable device. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphor comprises an upconverting phosphor. 
     
     
       20. A method for authentication using phosphors, comprising the steps of:
 initializing an application on a smart device, the application configured to control a VCSEL light source; 
 irradiating a substrate comprising at least one phosphor with at least one wavelength of light by activating the VCSEL light source; 
 detecting an optical response to the VCSEL irradiation; and 
 determining if the optical response matches an expected response. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises at least two phosphors having different compositions. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein determining if the optical response matches an expected response comprises detecting a signal with a sensor and extracting data from the detected signal. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the extracted data comprises at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of brightness, bit depth, luminance, color, color space, intensity/luminosity, hue, tint, saturation, shade, tone, lightness, chromatic signal, and grayscale, or the time dependence of the at least one characteristic. 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising verifying an optical signature of the at least one phosphor, verifying an identity of a user, or both. 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising sending at least some of the extracted data and a verification of an optical signature of the at least one phosphor, a verification of an identity of a user, or a combination thereof, to a data storage. 
     
     
       26. At least one non-transitory computer-readable memory carrying instructions to be executed by at least one processor, wherein the instructions are to perform a method for authentication using phosphors, the method comprising:
 receiving input from a user; and 
 based on the input from the user, activating a VCSEL light source configured to emit at least one wavelength of light sufficient energy to excite at least one up-converting phosphor positioned at a predetermined maximum distance between the VCSEL light source and the at least one upconverting phosphor. 
 
     
     
       27. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory according to  claim 26 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a signal from the at least one phosphor; 
 extracting data from the received signal; and 
 comparing the extracted data to an expected response.